Or wait…
News
Retail & Shopper Insights
Manufacturers
Ingredients
Processing & Packaging
Markets
R&D
Regulation & Safety
Editor's Choice
Industry Voices
Promotional Features
Site Archive
Multimedia
Sectors
Soft Drinks & Water
Energy & Sports
Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider
Juice Drinks
Dairy Drinks
Tea and Coffee
Site Archive
Multimedia
Trends
COVID-19
CBD and beyond
Low and no alcohol drinks
Craft
Beverage Entrepreneurs
Energy Drinks & Beyond
Sustainability
Smart Packaging
Functional Beverages
Emerging Markets
Fizzing-Up Carbonates
Future Flavors
Health and Wellness
Premium Indulgence
Natural and Organic
Alcohol Regulation
Soda: taxes & regulation
Site Archive
Multimedia
Big Brands
AB InBev
Constellation Brands
Bacardi
Brown-Forman
Carlsberg
Coca-Cola
Danone
Diageo
Dr Pepper
Heineken
Molson Coors
Nestlé
PepsiCo
SABMiller
Site Archive
Multimedia
Resources
Type of resources
Events
All Events
Shows & Conferences
Online Events
Editorial Webinars
Events
Processing & Packaging
– Last updated on GMT
Related tags Coffee Sustainability Life cycle assessment
The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) commissioned the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD) to review current processes for green coffee – the raw seeds of coffee cherries that have not yet been roasted - with the aim of creating a clearer picture of how to measure environmental impact.
The carbon footprint of green coffee can vary widely: depending on a wide range of factors from the level of nitrogen fertilizer used to the emissions produced by decomposing waste products, such as coffee husks.
But the key principle for creating accurate LCAs is ‘absolute transparency’ across the supply chain, says the ISIC.
Coffee is produced in a number of countries with very different ecosystems: ranging from Brazil to Colombia to Vietnam to Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, different ways of calculating LCAs mean that estimates of estimates of environmental impacts can vary enormously.
In its review, CIRAD identified and reviewed 34 studies covering 234 coffee systems, alongside international agricultural guidelines, on measuring carbon footprints.
These studies were representative of the different regions and settings coffee is grown in (for example, 72% of the studied farm systems were located in central and south America, which aligns with the 70% of global coffee produced in this region).
Assessing the body of LCA studies illustrated to researchers just how diverse coffee systems are: but also ‘diverging assumptions’ and a lack of quality data in some areas.
Many studies and LCAs, note the researchers, have fallen into the trap of simplifying data. And in some situations, there simply isn’t enough primary data (particularly, for example, at the coffee plantation level).
The agricultural stage is particularly complex: contributing significantly to many impacts but – as a living ecosystem – has numerous configurations and where proper assessments do lie in the detail.
The review highlights four key factors which can greatly shape green coffee’s carbon footprint:
The CIRAD review, therefore, highlights the need for transparency across the supply chain and recommends using IPCC (2006) guidelines for land use calculations.
Cécile Chéron-Bessou, lead CIRAD researcher on the review, explains: “Life cycle-based assessments are complex and based on numerous simplifications and choices.
"A key principle for these assessments is therefore absolute transparency around the exact choices and assumptions made as part of modelling.
"We hope our review will serve as a robust tool for transparent and sound measurement of green coffee’s carbon footprint – helping farmers and researchers to support good practices for sustainable coffee growing”.
The majority of reviewed studies looked at arabica coffee; only four looked at robusta. While arabica has been the dominant species in the past, robusta’s share is approaching 50% and thus was underrepresented.
In order to improve the robustness and accuracy of LCA of green coffee, the review recommends:
Meanwhile, a more detailed report from CIRAD has been released in parallel to dive down with a series of recommendations to standardize measurements.
For example, it provides guidance on how to identify representative measurements for different coffee farm systems and consistently apply land use change modelling, and outline how best to estimate total biomass (including roots) of other trees present in coffee systems.
Coffee is a perennial crop – which lives for many years without replanting – so the review also looks at how to accurately model and measure across trees in different phases of maturity.
The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) counts National Coffee Associations from around the world (including the US, UK and Japan) as well as six coffee majors: illycaffe, JDE Peet’s, Lavazza, Nestle, Paulig and Tchibo.
Its early focus was on studying and communicating scientific knowledge on the effects of coffee consumption on human health and wellbeing; however, it has broadened this focus to the health of the environment as well.
Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2024 - William Reed Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions
Related topics R&D
Show more
On-demand webinars